WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.120 Now, we're going to dive into First Thessalonians chapter 4. 00:00:11.120 --> 00:00:17.359 The title of this sermon is Making God Smile. 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:24.240 This section of Paul's letter that George read for us earlier, it's all about application. 00:00:24.240 --> 00:00:28.240 And so I just want to take a minute and reflect on that. 00:00:28.239 --> 00:00:34.640 We often think that we shouldn't be told what to do as Christians. 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:36.359 We don't like to be told what to do. 00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:39.879 Well, maybe some of us really like to be told, just tell me what to do and I'll follow the 00:00:39.879 --> 00:00:40.879 rules. 00:00:40.879 --> 00:00:45.159 But some of us, myself included, would be a little bit more like, whoa, I don't want 00:00:45.159 --> 00:00:46.239 any rules here. 00:00:46.239 --> 00:00:52.640 I just want the good news of what Jesus did for me and then to kind of go live my life. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:59.200 But Paul, in this portion of the letter, is giving us commands from God. 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:05.439 By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in the authority of Jesus, he's telling us what 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:07.840 to do. 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:11.799 And that might make us a little uncomfortable. 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:16.400 But before we look at the commands in chapter 4, we need to look at the gospel in chapter 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:17.400 1. 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:18.400 Why? 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:25.320 Because God never says to us, earn my smile. 00:01:25.320 --> 00:01:30.080 He says, in Jesus, you have it. 00:01:30.080 --> 00:01:35.520 God never says to us, obey me and then I'll free you. 00:01:35.520 --> 00:01:42.600 He says, I have freed you, so you can obey me. 00:01:42.600 --> 00:01:48.280 We have to see what Jesus has done for us before we can address how we are to live for 00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:50.000 Him. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:51.519 And remember, this isn't a textbook, right? 00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:52.519 This is a letter. 00:01:52.519 --> 00:01:58.799 This is a real letter from a real person 2,000 years ago to a real church plant in a little 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:01.120 place called Thessalonica. 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:06.040 And letters originally were not intended, surprise, to be studied over the course of 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:08.560 several weeks in small chunks. 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:10.360 What do you do with a letter? 00:02:10.360 --> 00:02:12.759 Open it and then you read it. 00:02:12.759 --> 00:02:15.280 And then you put it down and you think about it. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:18.159 And that was the original way this was kind of intended. 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:22.079 This is the way it would have been received by its, well, its recipients. 00:02:22.079 --> 00:02:27.400 And even the chapter and verse numbers were only added many hundreds of years after Paul 00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:29.159 lived. 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:33.240 So all that means that chapter 4 was never meant to be read out of context of chapter 00:02:33.240 --> 00:02:34.240 1. 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:40.960 The application, the commands are never meant to be split apart from the gospel that Jesus 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:44.240 has freed us. 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:49.000 So chapter 1 shows us that the church in Thessalonica, this little church plant, is a community of 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:57.879 people who've been radically transformed by the good news of what Jesus has done for them. 00:02:57.879 --> 00:03:03.600 Specifically, Paul says that he loved them and he chose them. 00:03:03.600 --> 00:03:07.200 So if you have your Bibles, you can flip to chapter 1 or turn on your phone or whatever. 00:03:07.200 --> 00:03:11.800 We're just going to look at verse 4 for just a moment. 00:03:11.800 --> 00:03:19.640 In 1 Thessalonians 1, 4, Paul calls them brothers loved by God. 00:03:19.640 --> 00:03:20.960 A couple things to say on that. 00:03:20.960 --> 00:03:23.760 One, brothers is not a gender exclusive term in this context. 00:03:23.760 --> 00:03:25.680 So women, you're not left out. 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:28.800 It's just like in America, in the North, we won't say you guys. 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:34.840 And where, you know, it is masculine, but in Greek grammar, it's this encompassing language. 00:03:34.840 --> 00:03:44.360 In other words, men, women who believe in Jesus, you're loved by God. 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:47.360 You ever let that sink in? 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:58.080 You ever just marvel that the person who created all the beauty in the universe, everything, 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:02.280 knows you and loves you? 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:12.159 Second, also in verse 4 of chapter 1, Paul says that we are chosen by God. 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:13.639 He's God Almighty. 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:16.439 He could have chosen anybody. 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:19.000 He chose you. 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:21.720 And really, that's just the gospel, isn't it? 00:04:21.720 --> 00:04:25.439 Loved by God, chosen by God. 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:31.399 He loved you by sending his own son to pay the price for every wrong you've ever done 00:04:31.399 --> 00:04:33.879 and ever will do. 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:38.599 And God chose you for what? 00:04:38.599 --> 00:04:45.079 Adoption to bring you into his family and make you his children. 00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:51.039 And every command that we're about to hear from chapter 4 only flows out of this reality 00:04:51.039 --> 00:04:55.560 that God gives us commands because he loves us. 00:04:55.560 --> 00:05:01.339 God gives us commands because we belong to him and we were chosen. 00:05:01.339 --> 00:05:03.279 So we never obey to earn his love. 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:05.839 We never obey to become God's children. 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:11.279 We obey because he loves us, because he already chose us. 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:14.679 So now let's turn to chapter 4 and we'll look at these commands. 00:05:14.679 --> 00:05:18.639 Now this chapter 4 verses 1 to 12 divides neatly into two sections. 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:21.239 So there will be two points to the sermon. 00:05:21.239 --> 00:05:27.319 The first section is verses 1 to 8 and that will be please God more and more in purity. 00:05:27.319 --> 00:05:34.199 And the second section is verses 9 to 12, love each other more and more. 00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:37.079 Let me read again from verses 1 to 8. 00:05:37.079 --> 00:05:43.000 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that as you receive from 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:48.879 us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:50.800 and more. 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:54.519 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 00:05:54.519 --> 00:06:00.759 For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, that 00:06:00.759 --> 00:06:04.639 each one of you know how to control his own body and holiness and honor, not in the passion 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:11.039 of lust like the Gentiles who don't know God, that no one transgress and wrong his brother 00:06:11.039 --> 00:06:17.120 in this matter because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:18.639 and solemnly warned you. 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:22.839 For God has not called us for impurity but in holiness. 00:06:22.839 --> 00:06:30.639 For whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:36.079 Paul is saying to the church, y'all, you're doing really well. 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:41.759 Now more and more, keep going, there's another step for you. 00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:44.759 We've never arrived. 00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:45.759 Not yet. 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:48.039 Not this side of the resurrection anyway. 00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:56.680 There's always one more step to take in God's grace for God's glory, isn't there? 00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:59.800 Now I want to talk for a moment about the will of God. 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:01.760 You may have noticed that in verse three. 00:07:01.760 --> 00:07:04.720 He says this is the will of God. 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:12.160 And how many of us, when we're facing a big decision, huge pivotal moment in life, we 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:15.160 want to know the will of God, don't we? 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:16.960 What is the thing that God has for me? 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:18.479 What's that next step I should take? 00:07:18.479 --> 00:07:19.680 What's the will of God? 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:23.319 Well, as Christians, we don't throw a dice to find out God's will, right? 00:07:23.319 --> 00:07:25.279 We don't cast lots. 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:30.479 And God doesn't usually speak audibly from heaven and say, you know, change careers or 00:07:30.479 --> 00:07:34.359 marry this person, right? 00:07:34.359 --> 00:07:39.599 God is actually honored when we prayerfully use the intelligence and the experience that 00:07:39.599 --> 00:07:45.120 he's given us and the wisdom in our communities to navigate the big decisions of life. 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:47.040 God likes that. 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:51.920 God wants us to be engaged in our lives at that level. 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:57.759 But we do know very clearly what God's will is for us. 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:03.759 Verse three, this is the will of God, your sanctification. 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:06.560 That's just a really church word, right? 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:13.720 Sanctification to grow in holiness, to grow in purity, to grow in how you're set apart 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:19.160 from everything that's ungodly and set apart to God. 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:22.600 God's will is that we grow in holiness. 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:27.920 So whatever your job, your career, whomever you date, whomever you marry, wherever you 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:34.279 choose to live, to move, God's will is in that place with that person and that circumstance 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:43.560 that you grow in holiness, that you ask him to help you take that next step more and more. 00:08:43.559 --> 00:08:49.399 So when faced with one of these big pivotal decisions in life, in those big kind of key 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:57.719 moments of life, you can ask yourself, if I make this decision, can I grow in holiness? 00:08:57.719 --> 00:09:00.559 Can I grow in purity with this person? 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:06.159 Can I grow more like Jesus in that job? 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:14.600 Paul specifically applies this idea to the sexual ethic of the church. 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:19.279 So the will of God is that your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality. 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:23.959 Each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion 00:09:23.959 --> 00:09:27.879 of lust like the Gentiles who don't know God. 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:30.319 So society today, he's doing a contrast, right? 00:09:30.319 --> 00:09:34.279 When he's talking about the Gentiles, he's just saying, we're talking about the household 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:37.799 of God and not the household of God. 00:09:37.799 --> 00:09:43.159 So he's contrasting, he says, the household of God shouldn't look like the rest, which 00:09:43.159 --> 00:09:47.600 frankly in his day looks a lot like it does in our day. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:53.039 Sexually promiscuous and permissive. 00:09:53.039 --> 00:10:00.480 Jesus's church is called from that society into a new society, which employs, which lives 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:06.600 by an entirely different ethic. 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:12.960 For the world, sexuality is an expression of yourself. 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:15.360 Sexuality is an appetite. 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:24.360 And the relationship between intimacy and commitment has eroded, if not vanished altogether. 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:33.320 But for the church, sexuality is an expression of the Christ-like union of intimacy and commitment. 00:10:33.320 --> 00:10:35.960 It's not about expressing yourself. 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:44.120 It's about giving yourself to someone to whom you are entirely, fully, forever committed. 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:46.800 And that's beautiful. 00:10:46.800 --> 00:10:48.200 And it matters, right? 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:49.680 It's not arbitrary. 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:54.839 God doesn't call us to purity just because he wants a community that's really kind of 00:10:54.839 --> 00:10:58.519 tightly wound up and constrained by rules. 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:03.439 It matters because it's how God relates to us. 00:11:03.439 --> 00:11:11.919 God when dealing with us never divorces intimacy and commitment. 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:19.519 Everyone whom God gives himself to, he fully commits to, which is such good news. 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:24.799 So, the Christian sexual ethic is not just physical. 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:26.720 It's theological. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:34.279 The way that we express our sexuality says something about God. 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:39.600 And it says something about the gospel, not just about physical and emotional appetites 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:43.000 or an expression of how we feel. 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:47.360 And the phrase in verse three, sexual immorality, is just one word in Greek. 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:49.399 It's the word porneia. 00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:51.759 And that means it's a catch-all phrase. 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:56.799 It means the misuse of our sexuality. 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:57.959 So it's not just one thing. 00:11:57.959 --> 00:11:59.399 It's any misuse of it. 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:00.720 It's sex before marriage. 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:02.159 It's sex outside of marriage. 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:06.039 It's self-serving sexuality inside marriage. 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:07.039 It's lust. 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:10.480 It's pornography, et cetera. 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:13.279 But notice Paul doesn't say, God's will is your sanctification. 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:15.720 Total abstinence. 00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:18.319 That's not the point. 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:20.040 Sexuality isn't wrong. 00:12:20.040 --> 00:12:24.240 It's misuse is wrong. 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:30.160 So when Paul talks about God's will, our holiness, he's not just talking about refraining from 00:12:30.160 --> 00:12:32.560 something. 00:12:32.560 --> 00:12:34.160 He's actually saying two things. 00:12:34.160 --> 00:12:37.080 One, don't misuse your sexuality, right? 00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:38.080 Refrain. 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:41.800 But two, do properly use your sexuality. 00:12:41.800 --> 00:12:44.320 There's an active component to this. 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:48.760 And it's proper place, it's not self-serving, it's self-giving. 00:12:48.760 --> 00:12:51.480 It's not just satiating a physical appetite. 00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:57.320 In its proper place, our sexuality is holy because it's designed by God. 00:12:57.320 --> 00:13:03.600 It's given to us by God to say something about God. 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:06.520 Now Paul, what's his rationale for saying this, right? 00:13:06.520 --> 00:13:07.520 This is the command. 00:13:07.520 --> 00:13:09.600 And we understand this. 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:10.960 Refrain from sexual immorality. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:15.560 But what's his reasoning that he gives for this command? 00:13:15.560 --> 00:13:21.200 Now he would be correct if he were to say that misusing our sexuality causes social 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:22.480 harm. 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:24.879 That's an accurate statement. 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:31.440 And the modern pornography industry has horribly harmed our society. 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:36.920 Secular sociologists and psychologists agree with that as well. 00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:43.799 When he does mention this in verse 6, he says, no one wrong his brother in this. 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:50.719 Sexual immorality is inherently to do wrong to our brothers and sisters. 00:13:50.719 --> 00:13:54.439 There is no harmless sexual sin. 00:13:54.439 --> 00:13:57.679 There is no sexual sin that only harms you. 00:13:57.679 --> 00:14:02.839 You do not exist in a vacuum. 00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:09.680 Sexual immorality turns the objects of our lusts into objects, something less than human, 00:14:09.680 --> 00:14:14.840 not image bearers of God, just things. 00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:17.840 But Paul doesn't spend a whole lot of time talking about that. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:19.759 That's actually not the basis for the command. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:20.759 It's not the rationale. 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:25.920 Now Paul would also be correct in saying that misusing our sexuality causes psychological 00:14:25.920 --> 00:14:26.920 harm. 00:14:26.920 --> 00:14:29.840 It absolutely does. 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:35.240 Because of this kind of immorality, forged neuron pathways that lead to something very 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:36.240 like addiction. 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:40.639 It's very hard to break. 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:46.639 And it brings with it a tremendous amount of crippling shame. 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:54.720 Whole generations are suffering from the psychological harm induced by the modern normalizing of sexual 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:57.000 immorality. 00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:59.400 But Paul doesn't spend time on that either. 00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:05.000 So what is the basis for this call to purity, to holiness? 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:07.559 Well, let me read 3 verses 2. 00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:10.759 First is chapter 3, verse 13. 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:12.759 This is the end of Paul's prayer for the church plant. 00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:19.120 He says, so that he, Jesus, may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:26.759 and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with his saints. 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:30.600 The Lord is coming back. 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:32.399 His return is imminent. 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:34.960 He's on his way. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:37.279 We don't know when. 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:39.960 But that's part of his rationale, isn't it? 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:41.480 Jesus is coming back. 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:44.279 Don't live like this is all there is. 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:49.039 Live like the King is coming. 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:52.720 Chapter 4, verse 6, another rationale. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:59.000 He says, because, he's saying, don't harm your brothers in this way, because the Lord 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:03.320 is an avenger in all these things. 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:12.240 The Lord Jesus is the avenger of all who have been sexually mistreated and harmed. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:17.080 So if you objectify someone sexually, if you harm someone sexually, the Lord will not turn 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:18.879 a blind eye. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:21.120 We need to know that. 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:30.080 Conversely, if you have been mistreated in that way, God is on your side. 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:32.799 He's your avenger. 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:37.120 The Lord Jesus will put it right. 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:46.320 Lastly, chapter 4, verse 8, Paul says, therefore, whoever disregards this, this command, disregards 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:51.160 not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 00:16:51.160 --> 00:16:55.600 In other words, this is not just a good idea. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:57.240 This is not a suggestion. 00:16:57.240 --> 00:17:01.640 It's a command from God. 00:17:01.640 --> 00:17:06.559 If Jesus loved you and chose you and transformed your heart with the gospel, if he's paid 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:11.480 for your sins, if he's adopted you into his family, then you belong to him. 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:13.519 He's your King. 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:14.519 He's your Lord. 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:15.519 He's your God. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:20.079 You're his and he's yours. 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:28.319 To dismiss and disregard the Christian sexual ethic is to dismiss and disregard God himself. 00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:32.400 God help us not to do that. 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:40.359 Now Jesus knows that he's calling us to this radical ethic in the midst of a promiscuous 00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:45.319 and permissive society, which means this is not going to be easy. 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:46.319 Let's not kid ourselves. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:51.599 Obeying this command will be very difficult. 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:54.399 We know this. 00:17:54.399 --> 00:17:57.119 That's why we need to hear the end of verse 8. 00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:58.480 I love this. 00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:05.000 Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:07.720 to you. 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:13.519 The Greek grammar is important and fascinating to me when it says who gives. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:15.119 That phrase is crucial. 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:20.839 It's a present active participle, if you're a nerd and know what that means or care. 00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:21.839 Present active participle. 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:29.599 In other words, God is right now continually, seriously, right now sending his Spirit to 00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:31.919 you. 00:18:31.919 --> 00:18:39.679 That's his posture toward you is giving God to you. 00:18:39.679 --> 00:18:43.000 We don't just have the good news of what Jesus did for us in the past. 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:49.839 We have God the Holy Spirit with us right now continually sent from the Father to help 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:53.480 in time of need. 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:54.480 We say the Holy Spirit. 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:58.680 It's the Spirit of holiness. 00:18:58.680 --> 00:19:06.200 He is deeply holy and he is way more committed to your and my growth in holiness than we 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:11.720 are, which is actually really good news because my commitment fluctuates. 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:17.880 I don't know about yours, but the Holy Spirit is continually being poured out on you and 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:23.559 he deeply cares and he's committed to you. 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:27.880 So you're in really good hands. 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:32.200 That's point number one, grow in purity more and more. 00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:36.079 Point number two, verses nine to 12, love each other more and more. 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:37.079 Look at verse nine. 00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:42.199 Now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write to you. 00:19:42.199 --> 00:19:44.559 It's not great. 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:50.319 There's a church that Paul can say, I barely even need to mention this. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:56.039 Love is just, it's the climate in this church. 00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:57.559 You have no need for anyone to write to you. 00:19:57.559 --> 00:20:02.199 For you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. 00:20:02.199 --> 00:20:06.319 For that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:12.240 So we urge you brothers to do this more and more, to aspire to live. 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:18.659 So what follows is how Paul wants them to grow in loving the brothers, right? 00:20:18.659 --> 00:20:27.079 To aspire to live quietly, mind your own affairs and work with your hands as we instructed 00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:32.519 you so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:35.559 Again, they're doing really well, right? 00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:38.079 This church plant is just doing great. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:45.639 But again, there's always room to take that next step, to see the smile spread across 00:20:45.639 --> 00:20:48.960 God's face as he looks at your church. 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:53.759 More and more, he says, keep going, keep growing. 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:55.679 It's deeply encouraging. 00:20:55.679 --> 00:20:58.000 There's a lot that we could pull apart. 00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:02.279 I just want to look at three aspects of this passage briefly. 00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:07.960 One is to aspire to live quietly, mind your own affairs and work with your hands. 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:12.720 So what does it mean to aspire to live quietly? 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:16.160 The set of words seems to be political in nature. 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:20.200 So I was talking about the public square. 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:26.639 But to live a quiet life can't mean to keep your beliefs to yourself. 00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:29.599 Paul is not telling us to be closet Christians. 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:33.839 We're not to hide our faith, right? 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:38.679 In chapter 1, verse 8, Paul says that he's thrilled that the word of the Lord sounded 00:21:38.679 --> 00:21:43.519 forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia. 00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:50.519 So somehow the word is sounding forth and Paul's telling them to live a quiet life. 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.919 What's that about? 00:21:51.919 --> 00:21:55.639 Well, how did the word of God sound forth from them? 00:21:55.640 --> 00:22:02.080 It was primarily by this church's reception of the gospel and not primarily by their proclamation 00:22:02.080 --> 00:22:03.440 of the gospel. 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:10.560 Sure, they were preaching, but the way that Jesus was glorified by this church primarily 00:22:10.560 --> 00:22:11.560 was by their life. 00:22:11.560 --> 00:22:17.440 It's how they lived, it's how they received Jesus and lived the faith. 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:22.960 In chapter 1, verse 6, Paul says it was their imitation of the apostles, right? 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:27.720 They saw what it was like to live a holy life, and then they went and did likewise. 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:34.759 It was the reception of the word in affliction, and it was their joy in the Holy Spirit. 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:39.160 In verse 9 of chapter 1, Paul says it was their hospitality, how they welcomed ministers 00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:45.759 into their church, how they turned to God from idols, and how they're waiting expectantly 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:48.200 for Jesus to come back. 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:52.480 In other words, Paul's not telling us not to speak up for Jesus. 00:22:52.480 --> 00:23:00.240 Paul's telling us to live lives that speak louder than any words we might shout. 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:04.160 The way we live really matters. 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:05.640 It's actually really encouraging. 00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:13.759 You can live a quiet life, and you probably think, all my efforts at doing good things, 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:16.360 good works, go unnoticed. 00:23:16.360 --> 00:23:18.880 But actually, God's saying, no. 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:25.120 He uses the way that you live, the way, church, that you have received the gospel, the way 00:23:25.120 --> 00:23:33.920 that you love each other here in this community is radiating outward from St. Columbus, throughout 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:38.200 Edinburgh, throughout Scotland, Nashville, Tennessee. 00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:40.200 It's making a big difference. 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:41.600 Keep going. 00:23:41.600 --> 00:23:44.600 More and more. 00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:48.840 Now, mind your own affairs. 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:52.159 Just from the mouth of Paul, he says, mind your business. 00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:54.039 Don't be a busybody. 00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:59.279 Pay more attention to your own problems than to the problems of others. 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.599 That's a little cutting for me. 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:03.519 I don't know if you feel that way. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:08.919 Maybe we need to spend more time thinking about how we manage our own households, for 00:24:08.919 --> 00:24:16.039 instance, than about how others do, or maybe then about how the government manages their 00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:20.240 budgets or what have you. 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:23.759 You're probably not, but if you're on Twitter like I am, maybe it means that we don't need 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:26.879 to give an opinion on everything. 00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:33.359 I don't think the world needs to know what I think about Simone Biles and the Olympics. 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:34.359 I don't think it matters. 00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:40.799 In fact, that's probably divisive for no reason, right? 00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:45.559 To live a quiet life and mind our own affairs means to let ourselves be thoroughly transformed 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:53.919 by the gospel and not to pick unnecessary fights in the public square. 00:24:53.919 --> 00:25:02.000 Let Christ and him crucified be the only stumbling block we stand on. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:07.319 Let Calvary be the only hill we die on. 00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:11.799 Lastly, Paul says to work with your hands. 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:16.399 Now, he's not saying that manual labor is the best kind of labor. 00:25:16.399 --> 00:25:21.440 He's not advocating that everyone become a plumber or a carpenter or a stone mason. 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:24.839 The emphasis isn't on hands, right? 00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:26.079 Work with your hands. 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:28.680 The emphasis falls on the word work. 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:31.039 Work with your hands. 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:34.399 It's the answer to the implicit question, what should I do with these? 00:25:34.399 --> 00:25:36.839 Work with them. 00:25:36.839 --> 00:25:40.879 It's the opposite of being idle with your hands. 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:42.200 You know the saying, right? 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:44.480 Idle hands are the devil's workshop. 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:48.040 Isn't that true? 00:25:48.040 --> 00:25:53.160 So Paul says that the way that we love each other, he's talking to a church community. 00:25:53.160 --> 00:26:03.160 The way that we love each other is not to present any unnecessary points of division 00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:06.560 that aren't Jesus to the world. 00:26:06.560 --> 00:26:10.000 Not to pick fights that we don't need to fight. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:13.839 Not to die on hills we don't need to die. 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:18.640 To mind our affairs and give voice to what really matters. 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:21.880 And to busy ourselves. 00:26:21.880 --> 00:26:25.279 Not to be idle. 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:31.400 So in conclusion, King Jesus this morning is giving us these two commands. 00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:38.799 Grow in purity and grow in love for one another. 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:41.639 Don't forget the tone. 00:26:41.639 --> 00:26:45.720 Jesus isn't standing with an angry finger and a sanctimonious frown. 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:48.119 I think he's smiling. 00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:53.639 He's saying more and more. 00:26:53.639 --> 00:26:55.960 You're doing really well. 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:57.200 There's more. 00:26:57.200 --> 00:27:00.519 Further up and further in. 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:02.639 There's a lot more I could say here, but let's end with this. 00:27:02.639 --> 00:27:06.919 Right before our passage in chapter 4, so the end of chapter 3, Paul speaks of Jesus' 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:12.279 return and right after this passage he speaks again of Jesus' return. 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:15.600 This is, it's a Jesus coming back sandwich. 00:27:15.600 --> 00:27:19.720 And he is, he's coming back. 00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:25.720 Jesus, the avenger of the misused and abused. 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:28.759 Jesus the judge. 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:36.680 And his will for us is to grow into a radiant community of purity and love. 00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:41.880 And his commands are for our deepest good. 00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:44.240 He's given us all we need to take that next step. 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:49.200 It's not like he's given us the commands, but we're unable completely to do anything 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:50.840 with them that would be cruel. 00:27:50.840 --> 00:27:53.120 He's paid for our sins. 00:27:53.120 --> 00:27:57.759 He's transformed our hearts so that we can love him so we even want to obey him. 00:27:57.759 --> 00:28:03.160 He sends his spirit to live with us, to help us, and he's given us this really clear pattern 00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:10.240 to follow, so won't you take the next step today? 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:13.440 He'll help you. 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:19.240 Now if you're here, or if you're watching online and you don't consider yourself a 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:23.160 Christian, I understand this has been a very in-house sermon. 00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:25.920 This isn't what you call an evangelistic sermon. 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:29.960 This has been primarily for the household of God, but I hope that you can see something 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:33.680 about the nature of this community. 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:40.519 What Jesus is calling the church to is beautiful. 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:46.400 And I hope you can see the beauty and seriousness of our King, Jesus, who stands up for the 00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:54.360 abused, Jesus who sets us free, Jesus who pays the price of our sins, but doesn't give us 00:28:54.359 --> 00:29:00.119 a free pass to keep on dismissing him and harming each other. 00:29:00.119 --> 00:29:02.519 That's the Jesus we worship. 00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:06.919 He's so deeply good. 00:29:06.919 --> 00:29:15.559 And if you'll just trust him to be those things for you, he will be. 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:22.879 Let's pray. 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:30.640 Lord Jesus, we come to you not to hang out with you at church, but to worship you. 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:40.120 We come to express our devotion to you, not so that you'll save us, but because you have 00:29:40.120 --> 00:29:42.080 saved us. 00:29:42.080 --> 00:29:44.560 And so we've been confronted by your word today. 00:29:44.560 --> 00:29:46.880 You've given us a charge. 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:50.840 You've given us something to do, a duty. 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:56.679 And Lord, it's our pleasure to do it because we love you, because we've seen all you've 00:29:56.679 --> 00:30:04.000 done for us, and you let us obey and take these next steps in purity and love, not to 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:10.119 earn your smile, but from your smile, knowing we can just see it spread across your face 00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:11.559 more and more. 00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:14.319 So would you help us? 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:20.720 By your Holy Spirit, would you help us to grow in purity, to grow in love for one another? 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:28.799 Would you make clear what next steps we need to take by your grace and for your glory? 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:31.880 And it's just for your glory, Lord. 00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:35.360 That's why it's not so that we can look good and squeaky clean. 00:30:35.360 --> 00:30:43.480 It's so that the world around us who doesn't understand the gospel can look at how we live 00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:46.000 and see the gospel. 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:51.279 Amen.